Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler is to propose new legislation next month to allow family members to be involved in the care of a relative receiving psychiatric treatment. Ms Butler said she hopes to bring to Government draft legislation to give families and advocates a greater role in the mental health treatment of a person but only with their consent. Andrew McGinley, husband of Deirdre Morley who was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of her three children, criticised the Mental Health Act 2001 following the verdict. “I appreciate the importance of involving family members as much as possible in a person’s care and treatment, with the consent of the individual,” she said. Ms Butler said the Department of Health was “considering the role of advocacy and the role of family members” in mental health services in line with the expert group’s recommendations.

Source: The Irish Times May 22, 2021 01:33 UTC